Supporting Your Teen

Support is a huge part of the development of a teenager as they go through their adolescent years and it can make a difference in how their lives turn out quite a bit. Support is a big issue for most teenagers not only because of the fact that they’re going through big changes in their body and their social situations but also because of the influences that they have from other friends, parents, teachers, and more importantly the media. A teenager that is able to maintain a strong core of support from a loving family and positive self expression is much more likely to be able to handle big life challenges than if they were to be suffering from poor influences of not feeling taken care of and it can affect their body image and future relationships in life.

If a teen doesn’t have the proper support and care from his family and friends and other social relationships it can develop into a lot of problems. A teen that doesn’t have this kind of support will usually develop poor self esteem and self-image (or body image) very early on and that is usually the least of the problems. A teen that begins to develop these kinds of views about themselves an often end up turning to other methods and sources to solve their problems and gain a feeling of acceptance such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, stealing, and other such illicit behavior which can turn into dangerous consequences for your teen.

If a teen has a strong support network including both family and friends and other positive influences such as mentors or teachers it can be the determining factor that decides whether or not that teenager takes a path into destructive behavior and choices or into a life of accomplishment. Supportive influences can help a teen to make positive choices with smart outcomes that will encourage them down a path of responsibility and accountability and a lack of this kind of support can turn things down a dangerous road for a teen that isn’t getting the guidance they need.

The best way to begin giving your teenager this kind of support and guidance is to simply open up and listen to them. You may not like everything that you’re hearing - what parent does - but it’s important that you demonstrate to your child that you care about them and the best way to do that is just by listening. Teenagers really just want to be heard with out the fear of reprimand or punishment. There will be times where a teenager has to be punished but if you preface this with an open mind and listening to the reasons why certain choices were made can help give you clarity as a parent which can make it easier to relate to your teen and explain to them why certain decisions weren't the best courses of action that could have been chosen.

Support your teen through this troubling time of their life and you’ll be pleased with the results in the long run.